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Every dog owner wants their pet to be happy and healthy. Vaccines are a vital part of increasing the quality of life for your canine companions. They help strengthen your dog’s immune system against deadly diseases and maintain overall health. The DHPP vaccine, also known as the 5-in-1 shot, protects against five critical health complications.
Here, we will discuss this vaccine’s importance and shed some light on its potential side effects. Keep reading to learn more about the DHPP so you can give your beloved pet a safe and joyful life!
What is the DHPP Vaccine?
The DHPP vaccine fortifies your dog’s immune system against 5 contagious diseases. This shot is important as it protects your puppy from potentially fatal viruses, including distemper, canine adenovirus-1 (CAV-1), canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2), parainfluenza, and parvovirus. This vaccine works by introducing harmless versions of the viruses into your dog’s system to create antibodies for fighting the following ailments:
Distemper
Distemper is caused by contaminated surfaces or infected respiratory aerosols from other animals and can be fatal. Luckily, the DHPP vaccine helps fight against distemper. If your dog acquires this disease, it can suffer from respiratory, urogenital, gastrointestinal, and nervous system complications. Immediate treatment is required to prevent this virus from becoming deadly, though it still leads to irreversible brain damage.
The best way to keep your dog safe is to get it vaccinated. If your dog is vomiting or has a high fever, cough, diarrhea, or nasal discharge, take it to the vet immediately to check for distemper. More severe symptoms include pneumonia, seizures, and paralysis.
Canine adenovirus-1 (CAV-1)
CAV-1 is a serious health condition that attacks your dog’s liver and is transmitted through urine and feces. Protection against this canine hepatitis is crucial as it can cause permanent damage to the liver, kidneys, and eyes, leading to death. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal pain, bruises, and jaundice.
Canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2)
While this virus is not as critical as the other infections the DHPP protects against, it can still be painful for your puppy. Canine adenovirus is spread through respiratory aerosols from other infected dogs. CAV-2 can cause dry cough, fever, and nasal discharge. It is more commonly known as kennel cough.
Parainfluenza
This virus is also transmitted through respiratory droplets and has the same symptoms as CAV-2, as it is also associated with kennel cough. It is a very serious but highly preventable disease.
Note: This is not canine influenza. It is a different disease and requires a separate vaccination.
Parvovirus
This virus is highly contagious and rapidly fatal as it severely affects your dog’s digestive system, targeting the intestines and bone marrow. It is a high-risk disease for dogs and especially critical for puppies with weaker immune systems. Urgent treatment is required to keep it from becoming fatal.
This virus spreads very easily amongst dogs through contact with infected fecal matter; if timely action is not taken, it can be fatal.
If you observe signs of fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea with stench, lethargy, and general disinterest in activities or symptoms of extreme dehydration due to excessive fluid loss, immediately visit your vet.
Chances of survival are high in vaccinated animals.
Why is DHPP Necessary for Dogs?
If you have a puppy at home, getting it vaccinated following a strict vaccine schedule is of utmost importance. The DHPP vaccine is a core vaccine in your dog’s vaccine schedule, which means its effects last for 3 to 4 years, providing long-term protection to your dog as it ages.
The essential DHPP shot is also beneficial in saving time and money. With this one vaccine, you can keep your puppy safe from multiple health problems instead of getting one shot for each type of disease.
When Should a Dog Get a DHPP Shot?
According to the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) vaccination guidelines, your puppy should get its first DHPP dose when it turns the age of 6 weeks. Depending on the dog species, it can also be given at 8 to 9 weeks of age. Keep visiting your vet for booster shots every 2 to 4 weeks until your dog turns 16 weeks old.
When your puppy is 16 weeks old, it will get a booster shot after a year. For ultimate safety, it is recommended that your dog keeps getting booster doses every 3 years. Visit your regular veterinarian for annual check-ups. It is also advised that your dog gets a yearly parainfluenza booster to protect against this contagious virus.
Your puppy must be healthy at the time of its vaccination. Get your dog examined for any diseases, so your vet can ascertain whether the vaccine will be effective. Several vaccines trigger some rollback reactions; however, the DHPP vaccine is reported as a safe and mild dose with minimal or rare side effects. Here, we have shared a list of the few reactions your dog may have after getting a shot.
Side Effects of the DHPP Vaccine
Most dogs suffer from mild side effects that often fade on their own in 1 to 2 days. The side effects of this vaccine are listed below:
- Pain and swelling at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Mild fever
Some rare and severe side effects that require urgent medical care are:
- Swelling on the face
- Labored breathing
- Skin rash
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Collapse or seizures
- Itching
The ultimate answer to keeping your canine companion safe and healthy from deadly diseases is prevention via vaccines. Preventing a serious health complication is not only beneficial for your dog’s well-being but also great for reducing your medical bills due to the high costs of treatments.
The 5-in-1 DHPP shot is a core vaccine every puppy should get for protection against lethal health issues.